Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-02
SONS OF LIBERTY.
objects OF the 6ress Northwestern
Cousptrncy.

Conspiracy.
lBy telegraph TO the Dispatch.l
LOUISVILLE. KY. January LA second
paper on Northwestern Conspiracy" p 1b
is6ed here, devotes much space TO g Nara
tive OF the efforts made by Jacob Thomp-
son, Special Commissioner OF the Con-
federate States I'm Canads." In the summer
OF 1854. with view 10 interesting pr0mi
nent men In the North In the furtherance
Of peace policy and his falling to create
dlssension and disunion in the North.
Among the northern men who went 10
Toronto 10 confer with Thompson was Judge
jeremiah 4. Black. Judge BLACK was
to peace. but his labor was frultless Thomp-
son was also in communication with Val
llndlgham, who was at this time In Jana
do. Valliudigham explained TO thompson
the character OF the secret society OF Sons
oil Liberty" of which he was grand CON-
mander. He assured Thompson that the or
der was In all 500, coo strong. There were
So, 600 m mbers, he said. In Illinois, $4,000
In Indiana, and 10000 In Ohio. The
ed, TO an apprehension that the progress
OF events was leading to military desPot
ism. against which.it was necessary TO or
ganize and arm. Members OF this associa-
ton. the writer says had no personal sym
pethy with the Confederates at oil. They
desired that the war should cease they Old
not believe In the constitutional right OF
coercion. and thought II unvise and
not condemn, secession. They had no
wish TO see the South successful by armed
superiority, and while they wanted the
Federal armies Withdrawn from southern
would have contributed In any way to
Con Tolerate victory or wished disaster
TO the Union armies In the neld.
We very soon discovered that this
ives the temper Of these people aud
found 1t necessary to keep that fact 10
mind IN all our dealings with them. There
seemed TO be hope on the part OF some
members OF the order. however. and II was
frequent topic OF discussion OF establishing
n separate confederacy of northwestern
States but a great majority, 30 far as the
Confederate commissioners aud their
subordipates could discover their real
and preponderent feelings. were AMI:
mated, Notwithstanding their Jealousy ana
desire to see the Union restored as IL
was" Mr.. Thompson and his fellow COM
N issloners endeavored in every way posi-
Die to foster the idea Of northwestern
confederacy to act in concert with the
southern. The writer denies that Jen
Davis was member OF the order or had
anything TO do with drawing It's constitu-
ton.
Extracts from the declaration OF princi.
pies are given as follows: 1.-The Coostitut
ton OF the United States OF America" is
was asserted, was formed only :" for the end
and purposes therein distinctly declared
and specified, and the Government thereby
created was endowed by the states act.
ing IN their several capacities of free aud
Independent States, with powers sufiiclent
TO the accom- plish ment OF those ends aud
purposes and no other, the powers not dele
gated TO that Government being By the let.
Ter OF the compact expressly reserved TO
the states or to the people respectively
Sovereignty resides IN and with the pe0'
pie OF the states respectively which are
parties 10 'the Constitution or the United
States. II cannot be alienated; neither
can IL be delegated. Some OF It's powers
may he exercised by delegated authority
while others cannot be SO exercised except
al the sacrifice, on the part OF the constitu-
ent, OF all that tends TO digdity aud TO mans
relations to the Government. Tue Govern
ment, designated the United states OF
America has no sovereignty, because that
is an attribute belonging to the people 10
their respective State organizations. and
with which they have not endowed that
GovommeDtasa common agent. twas oy
the terms OF the compact Constituted by the
States through the express will OF the people
thereof severally such common agent 10
use and exercise certain specified and llm'
lied powers. II was authorized. so FAR as re.
CARDS It's status and relations as common
agent in the exercise OF powers carefully
and jealousy delegated TO 1t, 20 call Itself
supreme but not sovereign Supremacy,
as plainly intended by the tenor and spirit
OF Article V. OF the Constitution was ere.
ated, defined and limited by the sovereign
ties themselves.
"In accordance with these principles the
Federal Govern nent can only exercise
deIegated pow ers: hence, IL those who shall
have been chosen to administer that Gov
eminent snail assume TO exercise powers
which have not been delegated, they should
be regarded and dealt with as usurpers.
zine reference TO Inherent powers IL
also TO State or military necessity on the
part OF the functiouaries or constitutional
Government; for the sanction OF any arbi'
Iary exercise OF power is but another form
Of assertion OF Divine right which we re-
ject and repudlate as did the patriots OF the
Revolution 4"